strain review Archives - the 6ix Cannabis

If you’ve walked into the 6ix Cannabis Store or shopped online recently, you’ve likely come across infused pre-rolls. A product category that has been gaining popularity since 2022, consumers are enjoying the broad range of flavourful, high-potency options available in infused pre-roll form. Come along with us as we take a peek inside how BZAM creates their Jet Pack Infused Pre-rolls.

What is an infused pre-roll?

“If you’ve never heard of an infused pre-roll, it’s essentially a pre-rolled joint (with dried flower) that has been infused with a cannabis concentrate to boost its THC content. Some are also infused with fruity and sweet flavours to add another dimension of enjoyment. Not all infused pre-rolls are the same. The type of concentrate and infusion method used can vary greatly.”

BZAM Jet Pack Infused Pre Rolls Juicy Mango

What inspired the Jet Pack line of BZAM’s infused pre-rolls?

“At BZAM, we wanted to enter the world of infused pre-rolls with a bang. Having had success with our boldly flavoured distillate vapes like Magic Melon and Space Guava, we decided to take that winning recipe and apply it to infused pre-rolls. And that’s how BZAM Infused Pre-roll Jet Packs came to be,” said Gabe.

Each BZAM infused pre-roll in a Jet Pack is a 0.5g taster returning a lab result of 34-40% THC. Gabe explains the pre-rolls are “infused with distillate extracted in-house and botanical terpene flavours (the same formulation as our vapes) so they’re not just potent, but tasty too. Some packs come with one pre-roll flavour, like the Mango Diesel Jet Pack, and some include two unique flavours to try, like the Apple Bubba x Strawberry Guava Jet Pack.”

How did BZAM come up with the Jet Pack flavour combinations?

“Taste-testing Mango Diesel and Strawberry Guava flavoured pre-rolls may sound like an awesome gig (it is), but we take it seriously. When we set out to find the right flavours for our Jet Packs, we knew we wanted them to not only be enjoyable, but also stand out in the sea of infused options. We also wanted to make sure the distillate and terpenes blended evenly with the flower for a consistent burn, which can be challenging with infused products.”

Cue BZAM’s talented lab team at their Pitt Meadows facility! They’re responsible for producing distillate and formulating BZAM’s product line of vapes and infused pre-rolls. Led by Gabe, this dedicated team, working alongside a select group of internal product testers, spent three months trying out different formulations.

Peek Inside: The making of BZAM’s infused pre-rolls 4

Gabe explains: “BZAM’s infused pre-rolls were evaluated on a few different factors. Mainly, the team assessed how different terpene blends tasted with different flower bases, always trying to hit the terpenes + flower = yummy equation. They also tested whether the formulation burned consistently from start to finish.”

How do you and your team ensure the mixture of milled flower, distillate, and terpenes burn smoothly?

“Without giving away all our secrets,” says Gabe, “we use a special machine to mix everything together evenly. This was also tested in R&D by sparking the infused pre-rolls and providing feedback on how they burned. We worked very hard to generate different flavour combinations and even harder to make the right choice. The diverse cross-section of product testers in our R&D program helped us zero in on the flavours we thought consumers would enjoy the most in our Jet Packs.”

Want to see for yourself how all this testing turned out?

Check out the variety of BZAM infused pre-rolls at your local the 6ix Cannabis Dispensary or at www.the6ixcannabis.ca

Learn more about BZAM infused pre-rolls and other BZAM products:

www.iwanttobzam.com

Have you ever wondered how vape pens are made and how they get their potent flavours, such as Pineapple Express or Cherry Loops? Join us as we take a peek inside how Good Supply vapes are created in our interview with Miguel Guillemette, Product Developer at Tilray Brands.

What does being a vape product developer entail?

“Working on the Research and Development (R&D) team as a Product Developer for Tilray Brands, my day-to-day varies depending on the products we’re working on at the time. We’re always working on filling our product pipeline with vapes and infused pre-rolls with new, unique flavours, therefore lots of development and testing are always taking place. When we’re not developing and testing, we’re creating new innovative formats or making improvements to our existing products. No two days are the same, making it an exciting environment.”

How did you get started in the cannabis industry?

“After obtaining my Culinary Arts Diploma at Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver (NWCAV), I relocated to Ontario. With five years as an e-juice mixologist, I’m extremely passionate about crafting delicious creations. Tilray initially welcomed me to their R&D team as a chocolatier in anticipation of cannabis legalization 2.0. However, as Tilray’s strategic focus shifted to vapes, my experience led to my swift transition from chocolate to vape flavours. It’s been five years, and I still love what I do every day!”

How are Good Supply vapes made?

“Creating a distillate vape seems like a straightforward process of extracting cannabis and adding flavouring, however the complexity lies in meticulous attention to detail. The journey begins with the cannabis input, using ethanol extraction and refining through distillation to produce a high-potency distillate. Cultivar selection significantly influences potency, so achieving the right balance between potency and flavour is essential. To deliver both, it’s important to start with a high-potency distillate to serve as a blank canvas for flavours, free from cannabis taste. My favourite part is the development of our proprietary flavour blends. After a recent six-month project, we further enhanced flavour strength and potency, and the positive feedback from consumers has been worth it.”

Vape pens being filled with Pineapple Express

How do you and your team decide on the flavours and cultivars to use for the vapes?

“Creating appealing flavours that resonate with consumers requires a collaborative effort between R&D and Marketing. Our flavour strategy has evolved over time alongside the legal industry and consumer preferences. As one of the first brands in the legal Canadian industry to offer true, fruit flavours, we recognized a demand for products that prioritize delicious taste. We continuously push the envelope on what’s available with new, innovative flavours – playing with different combinations and layers of flavour. We can go through up to 20 variations of the same flavour before landing on the one that tastes the best.”

What makes Good Supply vapes and hardware unique?

“We recently updated our vape hardware to a new cartridge! I worked closely with our procurement team to test and select the vendor and hardware we’d be moving ahead with.

Our first priority was safety – reviewing the raw materials used in production, the quality of materials, and vendor credentials. As a vape consumer myself, I always try to think as an end-user and how I would feel if I bought this product. Our cartridges have glass chambers, stainless steel coils, and ceramic cores (rather than plastic for the safety of our consumers). Second, we ran thorough trials of the hardware with different vape formulas to confirm it would deliver the best experience while minimizing product failures. No one wants to invest in a product and not be able to fully enjoy it. I’m very proud that since we’ve made this transition to the new partner and hardware, our reported error rates have dropped.”

“Additionally, I’m proud that Good Supply has decided to invest in environmentally conscious products and partnerships. The new vape pen cartridges feature a hemp mouthpiece and are packaged in hemp tubes with a bamboo insert to make them more sustainable while diverting waste from landfills. Being able to reduce our plastic consumption by using hemp makes me even more proud to share our products.”

What’s your favourite product to make and why?

“Developing new vape pen flavours will always be at the top of my list because there is no limit to what we can create. I have a soft spot for the Rocket Bomb vape we launched summer 2023 with cherry, lime, and blue raspberry flavours.”

Can you give us a sneak peek into any Good Supply vapes being released soon?

“Come spring 2024, we’re excited to be releasing something new, and it will let you put a unique flavour twist on our iconic vape flavours to take them to a whole new level of value and deliciousness – keep an eye out to see what we mean! We’ve also been experimenting with the next generation of Good Supply vapes that deliver remarkable taste without compromising on high potency, like our upcoming Gooey Gold, which is sweet and caramelized – one of our first vapes that doesn’t include fruit – for a consumer interested in something truly indulgent. We’re beyond excited to see how consumers respond!”

Check out the wide variety of Good Supply vapes in-person at your local the 6ix Cannabis Dispensary.

Canada is known to have a rich history with cannabis where famous cultivars like Pink Kush and God Bud first took root. Boasting an idyllic growing climate, this beautiful province cultivates some of the best bud, which is why 6ix Cannabis Stores prides itself on putting Canada licensed producers first. Take a trip with us in exploring three main growing regions to find out who the local cannabis growers in Canada are and where they are located in your community.

Fraser Valley:

Nestled in the southwestern region of BC, the Fraser Valley spans from the Cascade Mountain ranges and follows the Fraser River to the Pacific coast. It’s renowned for its sprawling farmlands as it homes some of the most fertile soil in BC. When combined with a mild climate that provides long growing seasons, there is no doubt why cannabis growers love this community.

“The Fraser Valley is a heritage farming region in British Columbia where fruit and vegetables have been grown for over a century. The climate here is mild, without huge temperature swings, and offers plenty of light that plants, like cannabis, love.” – Pure Sunfarms.

Check out your local Fraser Valley growers:

Interior:

Well-known as a spot for local wineries, the Interior takes pride for their numerous agricultural ventures, now including licensed cannabis producers. This diverse region sits East of the Fraser Valley and encompasses everything inland to the Rocky Mountains bordering Alberta, including the Okanagan, Caribou, and Kootenay communities. The dedicated cultivators, including micro growers, here cherish both the land and the climate, benefiting from sun-drenched, arid summers that complement the network of lakes and rivers that provide a thriving environment to grow cannabis.

“Good clean air and fresh water are the lifelines for our plants. It goes without saying that there’s an abundance of both out here [West Kootenays]– oxygen-rich, pure mountain air abounds and the naturally sweet water we draw from our 20-acre property is steeped with essential minerals and trace elements. These critical and very local ingredients are what give our soil and plants that extra special boost.” – Sweetgrass Cannabis

Check out your local Interior growers:

Vancouver Island:

Separated from the mainland, Vancouver Island sits in the most southwestern corner of the province. If you’ve ever visited the Island or if you live there, you are already well-acquainted with its beautiful beaches and fishing community. Its maritime climate of warm, sunny summers with mild winters was a huge draw for many talented legacy and micro growers to grow cannabis that continues to this day.

“We proudly grow all of our cannabis on Salt Spring Island, BC. Our plants bathe in the fresh, salty ocean breezes from the Salish Sea, giving them a special flavour and sticky quality that’s unique to the island’s special climate.” – Good Buds Organic

Check out your local Island growers:

Wherever you live in Canada, there’s probably a licensed producer in Ontario growing cannabis locally near you that we carry at the 6ix Cannabis Stores online or In-stores. Shop our whole Grown collection here

Have you ever wondered what sets organic cannabis brands apart? We sat down with the team at Simply Bare Organic, a BC-grower excelling at growing organically, to gain insight into the world of this sustainable cultivation method and the benefits of organic vs. non-organic cannabis.

What is Simply Bare’s philosophy or approach to cultivation?

“Organic cultivation is the foundation off which our brand was built upon. When setting up our greenhouse in Delta, BC, it was retrofit to support organic cultivation systems and processes, and we continue to improve this infrastructure each year. Our hybrid greenhouse optimizes sunlight exposure and in 2022 we finished our hydroelectricity project, resulting in all the greenhouse’s energy stemming from BC Hydro. We continuously seek for sustainable improvements, documented in our yearly ESG reports.

When it comes to the plant, our philosophy is twofold – respect for the planet and respect for the craft. Every cultivar is grown in our proprietary blend of living soil, think of it as our ‘secret sauce’. The inputs of this sauce are sustainably sourced from the surrounding BC region, including Douglas fir bark from the Sunshine Coast, glacial rock dust from Whistler, and kelp from the shores of Salt Spring Island. Once used, this soil is recycled and sent back to the nursery for the next crop.

When it comes to the craft of growing cannabis, we consider ourselves stewards, employing and protecting traditional growing practices and harnessing the knowledge of our expert team. From them we’ve mastered the art of post-production, harvesting everything by hand, cold curing and then hand trimming everything before it heads out our doors.

We embody sustainability in every aspect of our day-to-day. For us, ‘organic’ isn’t just a label—it’s the essence of our brand.”

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What is organic vs. non-organic cannabis?

“For a product to boast the word ‘organic’ on its label, both the product itself and the processes involved in its cultivation must receive certification from an accredited regulatory body. Across Canada, there are numerous regulatory bodies responsible for certifying cannabis, each holding licensed producers to comparable standards. Among these regulatory bodies are FVOPA, Pro-Cert, PACs, and Clean Green Certification.

These regulatory frameworks serve as safeguards, explicitly prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides, mandating that plants derive most of their photosynthesis from natural sunlight, and disallowing the use of irradiation and genetically engineered organisms throughout the cultivation cycle. Just as consumers anticipate when purchasing organic produce, opting for the same in cannabis ensures a final product that is cultivated without synthetic inputs and in alignment with sustainable practices.”

organic vs non organic cannabis certified brands

What certifications or standards does Simply Bare adhere to?

“We proudly hold certification from the Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association (FVOPA), a non-profit organization overseeing the certification of numerous cannabis and produce cultivators throughout the Fraser Valley and across Canada. Established in March 2001, FVOPA operates under the umbrella of the Canadian Organic Standard, dedicated to delivering top-tier certification and verification services.

The process for organic cannabis brands to get certified is rigorous, requiring several audits and on-site evaluations. Once the facility and cultivation practices are certified, there are re-occurring audits to ensure adherence to the established standards.

Although cannabis isn’t yet recognized under the Canadian Organic Standard, we opted for FVOPA certification due to its stringent guidelines, which align closely with this broader standard. This decision primes us for recognition once cannabis is included in the Canadian Organic Standard.”

What are some challenges organic cannabis brands face in maintaining standards?

“Growing organically at scale does come with its challenges. We have limited tools in our arsenal to remedy problems when they do arise. When necessary, we employ bioactive pest management, using predatory insects to control any pests that pop up, a practice that is commonly used in other areas of organic agriculture.

To ensure optimal plant health, we also clone strategically, taking cuts only from the strongest mothers and oversowing to ensure we have a selection of the strongest plants. Oversowing involves cutting more clones than needed and selecting only the healthiest and most resistant plants for our commercial crops.

The lead time to get products into market is also extended when certifying organic products. All inputs, processes, materials, and packaging must be approved by FVOPA before we are allowed to sell anything.

Despite these challenges, the extra effort invested pays off in the quality of our end products.”

What are some benefits of organic vs. non-organic cannabis?

“As consumers grow more mindful of what goes into their bodies and its environmental impact, we believe the demand for more organic cannabis brands and products is on the rise. Below are some of the benefits:

Sustainability: Organic production prioritizes sustainability from the ground up. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on artificial lighting, organic cultivation harnesses the power of natural sunlight. This not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with electricity usage but also fosters a more harmonious relationship with the environment.
Pure and Chemical-Free: Organic cultivation does not rely on any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Preserving Soil Health: Organic cultivation promotes soil fertility and microbial diversity, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable growing environment.
Unleashing Nature’s True Essence: Many connoisseurs argue that organic cultivation allows the plants to express their true properties fully. It retains its natural aromas and flavours, resulting in a more authentic and enjoyable experience.
Preserving Potency and Purity: Organic flower, untouched by irradiation, preserves the plant’s natural potency, purity, and a flavourful end product.”

Check out all Simply Bare Organic’s products online here or in-store. As well, keep an eye out for the organic tags in 6ix Cannabis Stores, which indicate all organic cannabis brands and products.

If you’d like to learn more about Rubicon’s brands, you can check out the links below.

Simply Bare

1964

Wildflower

Do you ever wonder how cannabis gets the most flavour from growers crafting their signature strains? We sat down with the team at Pure Sunfarms to better understand how hang drying has led them to relaunch their popular Pink Kush strain, a gassy indica, high-THC kush with high-quality buds.

What is Pink Kush?

“It is a widely popular, gassy indica that arguably put the legacy of BC bud on the map. It’s a favourite amongst many with high THC, dense chunky buds, and inviting aromas of white pepper, orange, butterscotch, coffee, and earth.”

Pink Kush High THC Pure Sunfarms 480x480 1

What makes the Pink Kush strain special to Pure Sunfarms?

“It is the first strain we ever grew in our greenhouse. It is our best-seller and one of the best-sellers in BC. This gassy indica is a West Coast classic with roots that originate in BC, just like our brand. We dedicated two years to fine-tune this cultivar, ensuring we got it just right. Now, it thrives in our greenhouse and is offered in dried flower, pre-rolls, and vape format for consumers to enjoy.”

WWhat is the history of Pink Kush?

“Our Pink Kush strain originated on Vancouver Island, but it’s a bit of a mystery how it made its way to the mainland. Believed to have stemmed from OG Kush, this high-THC strain is a true West Coast staple. If you enjoy BC bud, there’s a good chance you’ve tried it before.”

Where do you grow at Pure Sunfarms?

“We grow all of our strains out of our high-tech, modern greenhouse in one of sunniest spots in Canada, the Fraser Valley.”

Growing Cold Creek Kush Vertically weed, cannabis flower, infused pre-rolls.

What is hang drying? Why did you decide to hang dry?

“Hang drying is a legacy practice where the entire cannabis plant is hung upside down to dry. We’ve adapted this drying method in our 1.1 million square foot greenhouse space, where each batch of dried flower is hang dried in climate-controlled drying rooms. Our mature plants are hand harvested at their peak, fully intact. The plants are then carefully transferred from the flower rooms and hung by hand, leaves and all.

We hang dry all our strains in the greenhouse, including our Pink Kush strain. We approach every step of the growing, harvesting, and post-harvest process with care—hang drying is an extension of this. As the leaves dry, they create a natural cushion around the bud, protecting the trichomes and the natural flower shape. It results in frostier, more aromatic, and terpene-rich buds with a more natural shape.”

How is the process monitored?

“The process begins the moment our plants are harvested by hand and hang dried. We handle each batch with care during the drying and curing process to preserve the natural bud structure, aromas, and potency of each strain. Along the way, we closely monitor temperature relative to humidity and airflow in climate-controlled rooms to ensure an ideal level of moisture is maintained. After trimming and hand finishing, our buds are stored in airtight and lightproof containers to maintain the cure.”

Check out our 6ix Cannabis Dispensary Menu for the Pink Kush Flower.

What are the benefits vs. challenges from a large-scale operation?

“The benefit of hang drying is that we deliver on our commitment to the freshest flower in dried bud form. Consumers want flower that is not too dry, holds its natural shape, and showcases trichomes that are full to the brim with potent and aromatic compounds. This whole process is more hands-on, as each plant is closely monitored and the exact recipe changes per cultivar. Although this can take some more time and work, we believe giving each plant dedicated care and attention makes all the difference.”

Interested in trying out the new hang-dried, high-THC, Pink Kush strain from Pure Sunfarms? Pick it up here and see the difference for yourself.

Check out all Pure Sunfarms products.

Learn more about Pure Sunfarms on their website here.

Extracting the Facts on Inhalable Concentrates

Want to have the different types of concentrates explained? In Cannabis Concentrates, we break down the cannabis extracts in Canada, with a focus on our ever-popular assortment from the 6ix Cannabis Dispensary.

Bubble hash, rosin and resin, shatter – you may have seen these products at the 6ix Cannabis Stores and wondered what they are and how they’re made. Whether consuming cannabis by inhaling (smoking or vaporizing) or ingesting (eating an edible or ingesting an oil), terpenes and cannabinoids (such as THC or CBD) are what most consumers are searching for. Extracting and utilizing the desired parts of the cannabis plant develop products with a significantly higher potency of cannabinoids.

Before the different types of concentrates are explained, let’s review the two common extraction method processes.

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Solvent-based vs. Solventless:

You may hear about “solvent-based” or “solventless” concentrates. In short, “solvent-based” concentrates use an extraction method that requires a solvent to separate the cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.) and terpenes (aromas and flavours) from the plant, whereas “solventless” methods extract those same items from the plant without the use of a solvent.

At their most basic, solventless techniques can include manually shaking the dried cannabis buds to release trichomes (those resinous glands that appear like frost on the flower) and collecting the resulting powder for use. Although effective, some solventless techniques, such as the heat-and-pressure method to make rosin, can evaporate heat-sensitive cannabinoids and/or terpenes.

A common solvent-based technique that doesn’t require high temperatures involves using butane or CO2 in a controlled manner to separate the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant without the use of pressure. Solvent-based techniques can be helpful for recreating that “whole flower” experience (as more cannabinoids and terpenes are left intact) but may be less desirable due to other factors such as cost.

What are Live Concentrates?

If you see the term “live” in a cannabis product, such as “live resin” or “live rosin”, this means the cannabis flower was flash-frozen before being extracted. Immediately after harvest, the cannabis plants are flash-frozen and remain this way until extraction. This means the typical drying or curing of the bud (which is done to make dried flower, for example) is skipped; terpenes can be degraded during the drying and curing period of flower, so flash-freezing and bypassing this stage means that terpenes remain relatively untouched, lending to a more “true-to-flower” taste.

Let’s move onto explaining different types of concentrates, including…

Solvent-based Extracts:

Live resin: Live resin is made by taking flash-frozen fresh cannabis bud and extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes using a solvent-based extraction method. Often the “liquid” in vape carts, live resin-based products are prized for their rich terpene profiles due to the flash-freezing method occurring immediately after harvest.

Distillate: Typically found in vape cartridges and edibles, distillate is a clear concentrate that has been “distilled” after a solvent-based extraction. Potency is the major draw for fans of distillate, as true-to-flower flavours are often lost during the plant’s curing process pre-extraction. Terpenes and other natural flavourings are commonly added to distillate before it’s eventually placed into the vape cartridge or added to the edible recipe.

Shatter: Shatter is often made with dried, cured cannabis (although it can sometimes be produced with live resin) and a solvent-based extraction method. While some terpenes can be lost due to the curing process, the solid nature of the pieces make shatter ideal for consuming using a concentrate (or dab) rig, or, alternatively, it can be found in a liquefied form in vape cartridges.

Diamonds: Just like all diamonds, THCA diamonds are formed under pressure. First, a cold-extraction method is used on the plant, it then goes through either a closed-loop or crystalline method where heat and pressure are used to form crystal-like diamonds. Like shatter, diamonds are usually consumed using a dab rig, however Licensed Producers have begun making liquid diamond vapes too.

Continuing this cannabis concentrates, let’s explore a different extraction process…

Solventless Extracts in Canada:

Kief: Kief is a powder-like substance gathered using the technique of shaking or sifting dried cannabis flower to remove the cannabinoid-rich trichomes. Kief is a potent powder that is often used to add extra potency to dried flower by sprinkling some into a joint or on top of flower in a bong. Kief may also be called “dry sift”. When pressed together, kief forms hash.

Bubble Hash: Like kief, bubble hash is made by agitating dried flower until the trichomes separate from the plant. Bubble hash gets its name from the unique method of mixing the cannabis with ice and water during agitation to remove the trichomes without exposing the plant to heat. Bubble hash is consumed in similar ways as kief or hash.

Rosin: Created by squeezing kief or hash between heated plates to extract terpene-rich resinous oil, rosin can also be “live” if bubble hash is used as a starting material. Rosin is often consumed by vaping using a concentrate (or dab) rig but can also be mixed with dried flower or used in an edible product.

Still curious about other cannabis extracts in Canada that you’ve heard of?

Cannabis Concentrates Continued:

In this Cannabis Concentrates, there are also other products worth mentioning. Crumble, wax, budder, and badder are just some of the other product types you may see in stores. Typically, these all have various textures and appearances. Resin, for example, can be whipped into a “butter”-like consistency to make budder.

Infused pre-rolls: New to the market, infused pre-rolls are made with one or more extracted concentrates. For more information on these products, check out our 6ix Cannabis Dispensary Menu for the infused pre-rolls.

Use caution:

With these different types of concentrates explained, regardless of the form of cannabis concentrate you choose, remember that all concentrates are highly potent extracts. While typical dried flower THC potencies can range between 1-30%, concentrates can yield THC amounts of 80-100%. Even experienced consumers are reminded to start low and go slow.

we’re spotlighting a COLD CREEK KUSH

Learn more about your favourite cannabis flower or dive into something new as we explore the history, growing methods and unique properties of our most popular strains. In this feature, we’re spotlighting Cold Creek Kush, a woodsy, pungent, tall-growing plant.

Featured Flower: Cold Creek Kush at the 6ix cannabis in Ajax.

AT A GLANCE

Aroma and Taste: Woodsy, earthy, herbal, piney, sour
Common Dominant Terpenes: Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene, Pinene
Average THC: Strong to very strong Average CBD: Minimal

What Is Cold Creek Kush?

To answer this question and find out more, we asked the growing experts at Vertical (an AgMedica Bioscience brand), UP (a HEXO brand) and Redecan to fill us in.

An indica-dominant hybrid that’s a cross between MK Ultra and Chemdog 91 (also known as Chemdawg 91), Cold Creek Kush is known for its earthy, woodsy aromas and strong THC potency.

HISTORY

Cold Creek Kush was developed by T.H. Seeds, one of the oldest cannabis seed companies in the world. It has two well-known parent strains — Chemdog 91, a hybrid, and MK Ultra, an indica — both known for their THC potency and pungent, sharp aromas.

Chemdog 91 (the number in the name is said to refer to 1991, the year of its creation) is descended from the legendary Chemdog (or Chemdawg) strain, which is thought to be a cross between Thai and Nepalese landraces. MK Ultra is known for its potency, strong aroma and citrusy taste.

CHARACTERISTICS

What makes Cold Creek Kush stand out is its unmistakable strong earthy, herbal aromas and woody, sour pine flavours. “We’re not sure if this is unique to our Cold Creek, but there’s a noticeable and distinct dank smell that comes from this cultivar in the growing room. It has a very strong, kushy aroma that is easily distinguishable,” says Hua Zhang, head of cultivation at HEXO.

Cold Creek Kush Buds, dried weed cannabis with high thc, low cbd, sativa

Depending on the growing conditions, the colas (the clusters of buds on female plants) can be long and compact, with bright amber pistils and covered in frosty white trichomes. Redecan’s buds are well-spaced on the plant, with a distinctive “foxtail” look, says Brad Carter, master grower. While UP’s Cold Creek Kush is light green, other phenotypes can have dark, foresty tones, depending to the resin content, and the size may vary. “Our Cold Creek Kush flower finishes into nice, compact, tight buds with light and dark shades of green that are covered in trichomes,” says Chad Brian, vice-president of cultivation at AgMedica. “The visual aesthetics can be attributed to both our phenotype selection and our vertical cultivation strategy, which uses LED lighting.”

But what Cold Creek Kush is really known for is its potency — its THC content is typically at least 20%, with very little to near-zero CBD. “Our UP20 cultivars are always 20% THC or higher, so in order to hit that threshold, we must be methodical and attentive to each plant’s needs to ensure consistency,” says Zhang.

GROWING

This broad-leaf plant prefers to grow up and out like a large shrub, typically standing at 6.5 feet tall by five feet wide. From start to finish, Cold Creek Kush takes eight to 11 weeks to flower, and it flourishes with a lot of natural sunlight.

Producers seem to have success in growing this plant to a consistent size from harvest to harvest. UP has found it performs better in the summer months and a warmer climate, though the company has been able to adapt its hybrid greenhouse in the winter to produce the same results. “We’re able to adjust lighting daily depending on the sun’s cooperation and supplement with artificial light when needed,” says Zhang. At Redecan, the team strives for an ideal environment of 20 to 25ºC in a greenhouse to optimize the amount of natural sunlight.

As any Producer will tell you, each strain has its own challenges. While Cold Creek Kush gets plenty of air flow through its tall, leggy structure, its skinny branches require a lot of support when the heavy buds start developing, says Carter. “Also, because of the sativa plant structure, when pruning the plant, you must be cautious to not remove too many branches, or yield will be affected,” he says.

AgMedica worked hard to mold Cold Creek Kush to thrive within its multi-tier growing operation, which allows just three feet of height for each plant. The cannabis is grown under LED lighting in rockwool, with nutrient-rich irrigation, and finely balanced temperature, CO2 and humidity levels.

Fun fact

AgMedica’s “vertical” growing process was adapted from the one sometimes used in the mushroom farming industry.

Ever developing new ways to improve their crops, many Producers — including HEXO and AGMedica —have been working on cutting-edge phenotyping and experimentation with cannabis tissues, which replace traditional cloning methods. Zhang says the process has shown improvements in cannabinoid and terpene concentrations in its Cold Creek Kush.

What Is a Strain?

To understand what a cannabis strain is, think of it like a breed of dog. While all dogs share similar traits, there are distinct differences among breeds (you wouldn’t confuse a Great Dane with a dachshund, for example). When it comes to different cannabis strains, this means one may have a sweet, lemony aroma, while another may boast a pungent, sour, diesel-like scent.

These differences have been fine-tuned by cannabis growers over many generations. Growers will choose two plants with desirable traits and then cross (or breed) those plants together, creating an offspring with a stronger expression of those desirable characteristics. When breeding cannabis plants, growers are often focused on the unique aroma and taste, and the potential THC and CBD content. Just like no two Great Danes are identical, strains can vary from lot to lot and grower to grower.

Will I like  Cold Creek Kush?

If you like high-THC strains with pungent, sharp aromas, then Cold Creek Kush might be a solid choice for you. Remember to always start low and go slow — especially with a strain that has high THC with little CBD.

SHOP AT THE 6IX CANNABIS IN AJAX

we’re spotlighting BLUE DREAM — a Hybrid Dominant strain

Learn more about your favourite cannabis flower or try something new as we explore the history, growing methods and unique properties of our most popular strains. In this feature, we’ll spotlight Blue Dream: a tall plant with buds that give off an exceptional aroma.

Featured Flower: Blue Dream at the 6ix cannabis store in ajax